NOT everything is on the doorstep for trendy city-centre dwellers. Like out-of-towners, they have to do a weekly buy-in.

NOT everything is on the doorstep for trendy city-centre dwellers. Like out-of-towners, they have to do a weekly buy-in.

While the wide range of restaurants and delicatessens have proved ideal for Manchester's highest earners, they have to drive or catch a bus to the bigger supermarkets.

New research by students at Manchester Metropolitan University has found that almost half of those living in the city traipse back to the suburbs to do their weekly shop.

During the three-month study, MMU students questioned 200 city centre residents about their shopping habits. Just one in three was happy with range of food stores available. Most said city living had failed to live up to their 'everything-on-your-doorstep' expectation.

But with forecasts predicting that the number of people living in the city centre will rise from 8,000 to 13,400 by 2006, the researchers say that will need to be matched with an increase in food stores.

Kate Whittaker - who conducted the study with fellow students Phoebe Stewart, Jane McNabb and Anna Morgan - said: "Before they moved they all said that they had thought it would be more convenient and some thought they would have no need for a car because everything would be on their doorstep. Most people now realise the reality isn't that convenient. For some that has come a quite a shock and they are disappointed.

"I spoke to one woman who didn't want to commute every day and thought that would be cheaper. But prices were more expensive in the city because of convenience.

"This is something I had never thought about before - but living in the city isn't really convenient. It is a massive issue and people don't really think about it before they make the move."

High prices

Among the issues raised by some residents was the food stocked in the city - which they said was more geared to employees in search of a lunchtime snack - and the higher prices demanded by some convenience stores.

Research student Jane McNabb understands the issues raised because she lives in the city's Northern Quarter and experiences difficulties shopping for food.

She finds it so difficult to buy what she needs locally that she often shops on the internet - even though she would rather do so her shopping in the aisles or over the counter.

One 43-year-old city dweller told the researchers: "I have lived in the city centre for years, all over, and I've seen so many more apartments spring up since then and the number of food shops hasn't seemed to increase at all."

In light of the research, the need for a greater range of food stores in the city centre has also been echoed by leading retail analyst Cathy Parker, who is based at MMU's Business School.

"Too often regeneration projects focus far too much on improving where people live rather than improving how they live," she said.

"People move into the city centre to avoid long commutes, but if they still have to get into their car to go shopping then city centre living has not brought the improvements they expected."

Fiona Woodward, spokeswoman for developers Urban Splash, recognises the need for city centre accommodation to have the services they require relatively close-by.

She said: "The number of food shops available in the city centre is increasing, but they rarely seem to be located in the areas in which they are required the most. Urban Splash is looking to alter this by creating mixed retail units in the ground floor of our new developments in Castlefield."